As families prepare for the coming school year – gathering stationery, uniforms, and lunchbox fillings – a Mount Isa family centre is giving an extra helping hand.
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Ngukuthati Children & Family Centre in Pioneer hosted a huge crowd of people at its Back to School Day on Wednesday morning at 70 Short Street.
New manager for the centre, Krystle Chong, estimated there were more than 200 in attendance.
“Today’s event is all about getting ready for school. Through our service agreement it’s all about getting our kids going to school, that’s our main aim,” Ms Chong said.
“We’re giving out backpacks today – just the basics; exercise books, pencils, to help the kids for the first week at least, so they have got something to take to school.”
Mount Isa service providers and media were in attendance, including MOB FM, Gidgee Healing, headspace, Young People Ahead, Save the Children, and Queensland Indigenous Family Violence Legal Services (QIFVLS).
Save the Children had an impressive packed lunch station, where children could pick healthy snacks to fit inside a brown paper bag. The charity also gave out free pairs of black school shoes, donated by TOMS.
MOB FM was playing music all morning, and children had the opportunity to throw a ball around with North Queensland Cowboys star, Matty Bowen.